2 thoughts on “#F29: Shut Down the Corporations”

1. To: The General Assembly of Occupy Hartford:
   (Please forward to coordinator or facilitator)

   Regarding: A matter of critical national importance – the ability of American voters, of every party, to control their own government.

   Call to Action: It is critically important that you support a Voters’ Rights Amendment to the Constitution of the United States to transform its government into one that is responsive to those who elect it, rather than to the corporations and wealthy elite who purchase the people’s representatives.

   Background: The bipartisan outrage over the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United has led to a number of proposals to reverse it through an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The best known of these is the effort by Move to Amend, which restricts constitutional rights to natural persons only and which disallows the equation of money and free speech.

   Problem: The Move to Amend proposal is a good start; however it does not go far enough. In fact, after a long and difficult amendment process, it only returns the electoral process to where it was the day before the court decision, which wasn’t so great for the People of America.

   Solution: The Voters’ Rights Amendment (USVRA) includes the Move to Amend proposal, but goes further to clearly establish that the right to cast an effective vote is an inherent right under the Constitution. In addition, it provides for a national paid voting holiday, a national hand-countable paper ballot, and a process for the people to have a more direct role in the formulation of public policy. Finally, it mandates voter registration and prohibits voter suppression.

   Consequence: The USVRA will result in a transformation of the U.S. government into a more representative democracy in which the power of money and corporations will be curtailed and the power of the people will prevail.

   USVRA requests: (1) a vote by your general assembly to support the USVRA; (2) encouragement of other Occupy groups to support the USVRA; (3) a link on your net pages to USVRA; and (4) encouragement of your individual members to show their personal support at the USVRA website and on the Facebook page (Voters’ Rights Amendment US).

   Contact: JasonJames81@gmail.com of Occupy Long Beach for more information and to confirm your support.

   See: http://www.usvra.us for more background and discussion, including a list of other Occupy supporters.

   Reply ↓

2. AN OPEN LETTER AND DEMAND TO PFIZER, INC

   To Whom It May Concern:

   We represent concerned citizens from throughout Connecticut and New England. We are addressing you in this letter with one demand: to withdraw your membership in the American Legislative Exchange Council.

   While we encourage Pfizer to reconsider many of its priorities and practices – given the obvious unsustainability of the world economic system and the deterioration of human health and wellness in the face of environmental degradation; and given the increasing social and economic injustice in our nation and the world, we are currently focused on a single, pivotal concern: Pfizer’s membership in, stewardship of, and financial support for ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council.

   Our demand is simple; that Pfizer immediately sever all relations with ALEC.

   ALEC is composed of two constituencies: state legislators and large corporations, such as Pfizer Corporation. ALEC writes model bills and then influences legislators to introduce these bills in their own state houses, disguised as local initiatives. Pfizer and other corporations pay eighty percent of ALEC’s funding. ALEC’s 2nd Vice Chairman is Connecticut’s own John Piscopo (R) — also the House Minority Whip in Connecticut’s House of Representatives. Similarly, Pfizer is on ALEC’s “Private Enterprise” Board of Directors and has been for many years. Therefore, we submit that Pfizer’s level of influence within ALEC is considerably more than most corporations.

   Today we demand that Pfizer withdraw all funding, support, membership, and participation of any kind in ALEC. As proud as you may be of work and research done at Pfizer-Groton, it doesn’t justify the harm done to democracy through ALEC. On Wednesday February 29th at 10:00 am we kindly ask for an-in-person response to this simple, healthy demand. The work of the Occupy movement is to shine light on nefarious practices. Pfizer participation in ALEC is one such practice. As a pivotal issue, ALEC and Pfizer’s role in it will receive an escalating share of our attention.

   We will gather at the front gates of your Groton, Connecticut facility on Wednesday, February 29th to receive your response to our request. We are also submitting this demand in person to your Groton facility’s manager, as well as to and through various online sources and media releases.

   Thank you for your attention,

   Occupy Connecticut (representing the 99%)

   Reply ↓